Which Gate Will You Choose - Narrow or Wide?

There is a fork in the road ahead. You have a choice to make. One path looks smooth and inviting. It’s an easy road to navigate. There are throngs of people making their way down its wide corridor. The other path appears rough and uneven. It winds around the bend and its view is obstructed. This one is difficult and perhaps more treacherous. You notice that there aren’t very many people traveling this way. How do you choose which path to take? Are others making their decisions based on facts or popular consensus?

Now you’re at a crossroads. You’ve heard about Jesus. Someone shared the good news with you, and all of the sudden, you’re faced with making a choice that will affect the rest of your life. It’s just you and your decision. Life and death, good and evil, are set before you (Deut. 30:19).

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (NKJ)

The Living Bible (paraphrased) reads like this: “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose the easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”

The Message Bible says, “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in our spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life – to God! – is vigorous and requires total attention.”


Jesus compels us in Matthew’s passage to make a concentrated effort towards His Kingdom. This “gate” of mercy and grace leads to everlasting life, and scripture makes it clear that there will be few travelers who pass through its constricting entrance. You won’t be able to just haphazardly breeze through. It will take faith and determination to enter heaven by way of the precious blood of the Lamb. Luke tells us that Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” There would only be a few who would find their way to true salvation. The majority of the people would stroll down the wide and bustling path to eternal destruction.

The narrow gate might include persecution or sacrifice, as was evident in Paul’s life. The narrow gate is always characterized by a personal reckoning of my idea of what “coming to the Lord is” and what is actually required of us in order to follow Christ (Mark 8:34-37).

In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If you are presented with the Gospel – which gate will you travel through? Better yet, when you share the good news of Jesus with others, don’t forget to let them know that it’s no “easy road” to being a Christian. In fact, be sure to tell them it’s an exclusive invitation to meet with the King of Kings just through that narrow gate up ahead…

Photo by Damian Brandon

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.

http://www.Godmissionpossible.com 

Which Gate Will You Choose - Narrow or Wide?